Patients with lung cancer in England will be the first to receive a new drug that can stop the growth of tumours. It targets the Death Star mutation.
After seven months of clinical trials, Sotorasib was shown to stop the growth of lung cancer.
The drug targets mutations on the KRAS gene. This mutation is found in 25% of all cancers. It is also known as the Death Star mutation due to its impenetrability and spherical appearance.
Sotorasib, a breakthrough in lung cancer treatment, is the 20th most important. It targets a cancer gene previously untargetable. This discovery was made based on decades of research in laboratory that has revealed cancer's inner workings. Prof Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UKs chief physician, stated that Sotorasib is one among the most significant advances in lung cancer treatment. This medicine adds to our existing list of precision treatments in lung cancer, which are improving survival rates for patients who have limited options. This treatment is now available in England, which is a great news.
After an agreement with Amgen UK, approximately 600 patients suffering from lung cancer will receive the drug within the first weeks. Sotorasib is a tablet that binds to the KRAS G12C mutation. This makes it inactive and stops cell division and cancer growth. The drug is likely to be beneficial for thousands of patients with cancer.
After approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, (MHRA), Amgen and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have reached a nationwide agreement to allow eligible patients with lung cancer in England early access to the drug while Nice completes its ongoing evaluation.
Amanda Pritchard is the chief executive of the NHS. She stated: The NHS has a solid track record in securing best value access to world-class treatment for its patients. This lung cancer drug deal, which has been decades in the making, will save many lives.
NHS England has secured several additional drug deals. These include a cholesterol-lowering jab that will prevent approximately 55,000 heart attacks over the next three years and Osimertinib which is a lung cancer drug that will reduce the likelihood of it returning.
This comes as the health system continues its latest phase in its Help Us to Help You campaign. It urges anyone experiencing unusual symptoms such as persistent coughing that isn't Covid, a lump or bleeding in the breast or stomach area, unexplained weight loss or post-menopausal bleeding to immediately contact their GP, as these could also be signs and symptoms of cancer.
